Way back when, Ashraya Gupta, Bwog's Blue Notebooks correspondent, attended a BN-sponsored conversation with music critic Alex Ross. Even a series of technical (and editorial) snafus couldn't keep her report from reaching the masses.

At the most recent Blue Notebooks event, The New Yorker critic and recent author of The Rest Is Noise, expounded on some of his favorite topics: the death and life of classical music, his love for Doctor Faustus, and exactly what the Beatles owe to John Cage.

Ross's new book, The Rest Is Noise, traces a connection between 20th century composition and broader cultural and political history. His blog of the same name does that on an everyday basis. Where else are you going to find out that Jamie Foxx is not only a classically-trained pianist, but is now taking cello lessons from a member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic?

His interview last Monday dealt less with Foxx and more with names you might not know unless (a) you've taken Music Hum, (b) you've read his book, or (c) you actually listen to classical music. As audience members entered 501 Schermerhorn, Steve Reich's "Music for 18 Musicians," which does indeed make an appearance in the Music Hum textbook, could be heard. Ross kept fiddling with his iPod and laptop, appearing anxious to share more. Once he was certain everyone had found their seats, he turned down the volume and turned to his interviewer, Linden Park.

Can the apocalypse be funny? Ashraya Gupta, Bwog's Blue Notebooks correspondent (and member herself), summarizes novelist Matthew Sharpe's recent visit to Morningside and reviews his latest, Jamestown.

Not the ex-bassist for Weezer, but Matthew Sharpe, author of the best post-annihilation novel this side of the Book of Revelations—well, maybe.

Matthew Sharpe has the kind of acerbic yet winsome humor you'd expect of someone capable of writing dialog like this:

"Like you're so happy, Rolfe. Hope you don't get murdered in your sleep. Good night. Up yours."
"Where do you think Smith is?"
"Also up yours, I would guess."

The Rolfe in question would be John Rolfe, the English colonist, who died sometime around 1622. Smith, of course, is John Smith, whom you probably remember from Pocahontas, the Disney movie. Sharpe's new novel, Jamestown (Soft Skull, 2007), succeeds in all the ways Disney failed: it stays true to the story. At least, as true as you can stay when you're shifting everything forwards about half a millennium and adding a devastating war between the city-states of Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Last Thursday, during an event sponsored by the Blue Notebooks, Sharpe spoke about the new novel, his process as a writer, and why violence (think lots of arrows, in excruciating places) makes for the best comedy (ditto).

Bethany Rower conducted the interview. After a short introduction from Rower, Sharpe opened by saying, "I'm glad I haven't been subjected to the new Columbia tradition of being denounced before I speak."